Furnace humidifier

ABSTRACT

A humidifier includes a housing in which vaporizer means for promoting vaporization of liquid is removably received. The vaporizer means includes a liquid manifold and a porous material. The liquid manifold is connected to a pump assembly by a conduit such that the manifold is supplied with a liquid thereby. The housing has an opening therein which the manifold is adapted to sealingly engage and the conduit is secured in a predetermined location with respect to that opening. The conduit and the manifold further include means for automatically sealingly engage each other in response to the manifold being inserted into sealing engagement with the opening in the housing thereby providing a fluid flow path from the conduit to the interior of said manifold. The manifold has a portion which grips the porous material such that the porosity of the material is controlled and the flow of liquid from the manifold to the porous material is regulated thereby. The manifold is configured such that the vaporizer means and manifold are removable without disassembly of the humidifier.

Unite 1' States Chilcoat atent 1 1 FURNACE HUMIDKFIER Kermit E. Chilcoat, Valley City, Ohio [75] inventor:

[63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 858,795, Sept. 17,

1969, Pat. No. 3,612,033.

[52] US. Cl. ..126/113, 26l/DIG. 41 [51] Int. Cl. ..F24f 3/14 [58] Field of Search..l26/ll3;26l/D1G. 15,D1G.41

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,637,540 5/1953 Rowe ..l26/ll3 UX 3,105,860 10/1963 Dunn ..126/l13 X 3,401,681 9/1968 McDuffee, Sr... ..l26/l 13 3,612,033 10/1971 Chilcoat 126/1 13 Primary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre Attorney-Thomas E. Davis [57] ABSTRACT A humidifier includes a housing in which vaporizer means for promoting vaporization of liquid is removably received. The vaporizer means includes a liquid manifold and a porous material. The liquid manifold is connected to a pump assembly by a conduit such that the manifold is supplied with a liquid thereby. The housing has an opening therein which the manifold is adapted to sealingly engage and the conduit is secured in a predetermined location with respect to that opening. The conduit and the manifold further include means for automatically sealingly engage each other in response to the manifold being inserted into sealing engagement with the opening in the housing thereby providing a fluid flow path from the conduit to the interior of said manifold. The manifold has a portion which grips the porous material such that the porosity of the material is controlled and the flow of liquid from the manifold to the porous material is regulated thereby. The manifold is configured such that the vaporizer means and manifold are removable without disassembly of the humidifier.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures FURNACE HUMIDIFIER This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Ser. No. 858,795, filed Sept. 17, 1969, now US. Pat. No. 3,612,033.

The present invention relates to a humidifier having a vaporizer means removably mounted in a housing member, and more particularly relates to a humidifier having a vaporizer means which is readily removable from the humidifier housing member without disassembly of the humidifier or use of any tools whatsoever.

Humidifiersfor increasing the moisture content of air are known. The humidifiers of the prior art expose an air stream to a liquid such as water in order to increase the moisture content of the air. Generally, the liquid is supplied to a vaporizer means which exposes the liquid to the air stream to effectevaporation of the liquid.

In this type of humidifier, the liquid, usually water, supplied to the vaporizer means contains some mineral impurities. When the liquid is evaporated from the vaporizer means, these impurities remain in the vaporizer means and decrease its efficiency. Since these mineral deposits must be removed from the .vaporizer means, it is desirable that such an operation therefrom. Once these mineral deposits have been removed, the humidifier must be reassembled with the cleaned vaporizer means positioned therein. The prior art humidifiers require complicated disassembling processes to accomplish cleaning of the vaporizer. The humidifiers of the prior art require an excessive amount of time for disassembly and reassembly after cleaning the vaporizer means.

The configuration of a humidifier having a housing member and a vaporizer means removably received by the housing member has been further complicated by certain considerations which are important from both a commercial and operational standpoint. When building a vaporizer means such that it is easily removable with respect to the housing, the configuration must be such that the vaporizer'means is sealed with respect to the housing member to allow air to flow through the vaporizer means without substantial leaking out of the mounting area.

Another problem is the metering of the liquid to be vaporized. By controlling the amount of liquid. to be evaporated, a uniform distribution of liquid will be presented to the air flow through the humidifier, thus maximizing the efficiency of the humidifier. For example, when the vaporizer means includes a sheet of porous material, the thicker the sheet, the more liquid 7 must be supplied thereto. One such metering device, as shown in Gushue patentapplication Ser. No. 748,268, filed July 29, 1968, discloses the use of a manifold to grip a porous material. The metering device shown by Gushue is a standing type room humidifier and is not used in conjunction with any other air supply system, such as a furnace;

Another problem of the prior art was that when the manifold and vaporizer media were removed from the housing, complicated operations were required to reconnect the manifold to the fluid supply.

The humidifier of the present invention provides a vaporizer means which is readily removable from the housing of the humidifier, thus the humidifier efficiency may be returned to its original level by replacing the old vaporizer media with new or by rinsing the vaporizer media to remove the deposits before replacing it. A reservoir may also be provided in conjunction with the humidifier of the present invention to collect any excess liquid supplied to the vaporizer means. The excess liquid may carry away a portion of the minerals remaining upon evaporation of a portion of the liquid supplied thereto.

The humidifier of the present invention further solves these problems by providing a vaporizer means comprising a porous material and a manifold means. The manifold means grips the porous material with lips which restrict the porous material. Thus, the flow of liquid into the porous material will be metered thereby and the amount of liquid carried in the porous material is controlled. In addition, the liquid to be evaporated is uniformly distributed across the air flow of the humidifier of the present invention.

The humidifier of the present invention further solves the reassembly problems of prior art devices by providing a'manifold and fluid conduit having means for automatically reestablishing fluid communication therebetween in response to the manifold and vaporizer media being reinserted into the housing.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved humidifier having a vaporizer means which is removably mounted in a housing'of the vaporizer in a manner which provides for easy removal thereof for cleaning'or replacement purposes and wherein the vaporizer means includes means for automatically establishing fluid communication with a fluid supply interiorly of the housing in response to the vaporizer media being inserted into an opening in the housing.

It is yet another ,object of the present invention to provide a humidifier having a vaporizer means removably mounted in a housing member and adapted to meter the fiow of liquid to be evaporated therefrom.

A further object to the present invention is the provision of a new and improved humidifier having a vaporizer which includesa porous material and a liquid manifold connected therewith and wherein the manifold has portions which releasably engage both a housing of the humidifier and a fluid conduit within the housing so that the manifold and porous material can be readily removed therefrom or replaced thereon with fluid communication being automatically reestablished between said conduit and said manifold upon replacement thereof.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following detailed description thereof made with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a humidifier embodying the present invention showing a portion thereof cut away;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the humidifier shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the humidifier shown in FIG. 1 with a portion cut away;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the humidifier shown in FIG. 1 taken along lines 4-4 thereof; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 2.

The present invention provides a new and improved humidifier having a vaporizer means which is removably mounted in a humidifier housing member. The improved humidifier of the immediate invention is adapted to meter the liquid to be evaporated into the air flowing therethrough. The humidifier of the present invention is designed such that a source of liquid may be automaticly connected and disconnected to the vaporizer means upon to enable pressurization of insertion or removal thereof a portion of the vaporizer means. Such a design ensures a uniform distribution of liquid presented to the area through which the air to be humidified is flowing. The present invention may be applied to humidifiers of a wide variety of constructions and designs, and for purposes of illustration, is described and illustrated in the drawings as applied to a humidifier shown in FIG. 1.

The humidifier 10 includes a vaporizer means 12 removably mounted with respect to a housing 14 having an opening 15 for receiving the vaporizer means 12. The humidifier 10 is adapted to allow air to pass through a portion of the vaporizer means 12 to evaporate the liquid supplied to the vaporizer means 12. In such a manner, the humidity of the air passing through the humidifier is increased.

In order to receive air to be humidified the humidifier 10 is mounted on an air duct 16, such as a plenum leading from a furnace. The housing 14 is mounted on the air duct 16 by any conventional means such as fasteners 24. The humidifier 10 has passage means, generally indicated at 18, for providing for flow of air through the humidifier 10. The passage means 18 includes an inlet 20 for receiving air from the air duct 16 and an outlet 22 for returning humidified air back to the air duct 16. It should be clearly understood that the passage means 18 may .be defined by the air duct 16 and that the vaporizer means 12 may be directly mounted in the air flow through the air duct 16.

A fan 26 is provided adjacent to the inlet passage 20 to draw air from the air duct. A motor 28 as best seen in FIG. 3 is mounted to rotate the fan and is actuated by means of the electrical leads 44 which are connected to a humidistat for actuation of the motor 28. The motor 28 is connected to the fan 26 by means ofa coupling 27 which also serves to support the fan 26. The fan 26 draws the air into the inlet 20 and up through the center 30 of the fan 26 to force the air through the vaporizer means 12. A wall 34 is provided to direct the air from the fan 26 through the vaporizer means 12.

The motor 28 is mounted to the housing 14 by means of a support member 37 which is attached to the housing 14 by means of fasteners, generally indicated at 39. The motor 28 retains a second support member 36 by threaded fastener means 38. The second support member 36 has a lower end 40 which houses a pump 42.

The motor 28 is drivingly connected to the pump 42 by the shaft 46 such that when the motor 28 is actuated by the humidistat the pump 42 is also actuated.

The pump 42 supplies the vaporizer means 12 with liquid through a conduit means 64. The pump 42 may be of any conventional design and is adapted to receive liquid therein through the inlet 48 and expel the liquid through the outlet 50 under pressure.

The pump 42 is immersed in a reservoir 52 containing liquid thereinQMeans 56 are provided to maintain the liquid contained therein at a level 54 such that when the level of the liquid drops below the level 54, additional liquid will be supplied thereto through the opening 58. The means 56 for maintaining the level 54 includes a float 60 which floats in the liquid and is adapted to actuate a valve 62 when the level of the liquid drops below the level 54. When the valve 62 is actuated, the inlet 58 to the reservoir is opened to supply additional liquid to the reservoir 52 from a conventional liquid supply (not shown).

In operation, when the humidistat senses that the humidity in an area should be increased, the motor 28 is actuated through the electrical leads 44 and air is drawn in from the air duct 16 into the humidifier 10 through the inlet 20. The air moves up through the inside of the fan26, is expelled from the outer surface 32 thereof and is directed through the vaporizer means 12. Consequently, the humidified air returns to the air duct 16 through the outlet 22 of the humidifier 10 to be circulated to the space to be supplied with humidified air.

Actuation of the motor 28 also actuates the pump 42 to draw liquid through the inlet 48 and expel the liquid through the outlet 50 under pressure. The liquid under pressure flows through the conduit 64 to the vaporizer means 12. When the pump draws sufficient liquid from the liquid reservoir 52 such that the level of the liquid is below the liquid level 54, the means 56 operates to replenish the supply of liquid.

The vaporizer means 12 includes two vaporizer assemblies, each of which have a manifold sealingly engaging the periphery of one of the openings 15 in the housing and a porous-material 72. It should be understood that the vaporizer means 12 may include any number of vaporizer assemblies, but for ease of description, one representative vaporizer assembly will be described hereinbelow. I

The manifold 70 includes a first portion 74 for gripping the porous material 72 and a second portion 76 projecting outwardly of the housing member 14 so as to be gripped for removal of the vaporizer means 12 from the housing 14. The portion 74 for retaining the porous member 72 may be defined by lips which com press the porous material 72 into an area, generally indicated at 78. When a porous material is so compressed, the area 78 which is compressed decreases in porosity and thus provides resistance to flow of liquid therethrough. The lips 74 extend around the periphery of the porous material 72 such that each edge of porous material 72 is compressed in the areas generally indicated 78 as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The manifold 70 includes a chamber 80 extending along the length of the porous material 72. The chamber 80 is supplied with liquid under pressure from the conduit means 64 through the connection 82. When liquid under pressure is supplied to the manifold chamber 80, the liquid has a substantially uniform pressure along the entire length of the manifold 70. Thus, the. liquid passing through the area 78 provides a uniform supply of liquid to the porous material 72 to allow for a uniform distribution of the liquid in the porous material 72 over the area through which the air is flowing.

The porous material may be comprised of any foraminous material wellknown to those skilled in the art such as reticulated polyurethane. lt should also be understood that generally the porous member 72 is supplied in a sheet having a certain thickness. If the thickness is varied, it is important to vary the size of the lips 74 and consequently the area 78 through which the liquid flows. For example, if the thicker sheet of material were used and more air forced therethrough, it would be important to increase the size of the area 78 to provide a greater amount of liquid'to the porous material 72. It should also be understood that when thicker material is used, if the size of the area 78 is held constant, the flow rate therethrough will decrease since the resistance to flow of the porous material compressed thereby increases.

ln order to provide a vaporizer means 12 which is removable with respect to the housing 14, portions of the manifold 70 are provided to removably engage the periphery of opening'lS of the housing 14. The portions include an upper protrusion 86 and a lower protrusion 88 which define a groove 90. The protrusions 86, 88 and groove 90 extend about the outer peripheral surface, generally indicated at 92, of the manifold means 70.

The groove 90 receives the housing member 14 such that the upper protrusion 86 prohibits downward movement of the vaporizer means 12 and the lower protrusion 88 resist removal of the vaporizer means 12. Since the porous material 72 of the vaporizer means 12 is in contact with the lower portion of the housing 14,

as best seen in FIG. 4, downward movementof themanifold means is further prohibited. Later all movement of the vaporizer means 12 due to flow of air therethrough is prohibited by extensions 94 of the humidifier housing 14. i

A chamber 96 is provided about the area in which the manifold 70 is received by the housing 14 to facilitate removal or reinsertion of the manifold means 7 In order to further facilitate simplified removal of the,

vaporizermeans 12 with respect to the housing 14, a simplified fluid connection 82' is provided to eliminate any complicated disconnection problems and enable the manifold 70 to be automatically reconnected to thefluid supply-upon reinsertion of the manifold 70 into sealing engagement with the housing. The manifold 70 has an opening 101 and is provided with a lower flange 100 which is adapted to be seated against a member 102 having a connecting tube 104 mounted thereon. The tube 104 receives liquid under pressure from the conduit 64 and supplies the liquid under pressure to the manifold 70. The lower flange 100 engages the surface of member 102 to seal the connection 82 such that the pressurized liquid is contained in the chamber of the manifold 70 to supply the porous material 72 with the liquid under a uniform pressure across its entire length.

Thus, when the vaporizer means 12 is to be removed from the housing 14, the second portion 76 of the manifold means 70 may be gripped and an upward force exerted such that the lower protrusion 88 will buckle and yield to allow removal of the vaporizer means 12. On the other hand, when the vaporizer means 12 is received by the housing 14, the groove 90 provides a uniform seal about the outer peripheral surface 92 of the manifold such that the vaporizer means 12 is retained in the housing means 14.

In order to enable fluid communication to be automatically reestablished between the connecting tube 104 and manifold 70 in response to insertion of the manifold 70 into sealing engagement with the housing, the connecting tube 104 is secured in a predetermined relationship to the opening in the housing which receives the manifold 70 and is further provided with a rounded head portion 120 to facilitate engagement with the opening 101 of manifold 70. Since the manifold 70 may be made of rubber or the like, the opening 101 may stretch and deform to slip over rounded head portion 120 of connecting tube 104 and into sealing engagement with the surface of member 102 under head portion 120.

It should be understood that the communication of the flange with the member 102 provides for a fluid connection 82 which automatically reestablishes fluid communication between the manifold 70 and the fluid supply in response to the vaporizer means 12 being assembled with thehousing 14. When the vaporizer means 12 is so removed it may be rinsed out and the particles remaining from the liquid that has evaporated may be removed therefrom.

An additional feature which may be used in conjunction with the humidifier 10 of the present invention includes a drain off reservoir 106. When an excess amount of liquid is allowed to flow through the porous material 72, liquid will flow from the bottom 108 of the vaporizer means 12. The housing 14 is shaped in a trough configuration in the area generally indicated at 110 as best seen in FIG. 4 to allow the excess liquid to flow down a central portion of the housing 14. A drain orifice 112 is provided in the trough 110 to supply the drain off reservoir 106 with the excess liquid.

As the humidifier 10 continues to operate the excess liquid continues to flow into the reservoir 106. A gravity siphon 114 positioned in the drain off reservoir 106 operates to remove the excess liquid contained in the drain off reservoir 106 when it reaches a predetermined level.

As the liquid level in the drain off reservoir 106 increases the'liquid inside the gravity siphon 114 continues to rise until it reaches the upper portion 115 of the gravity siphon 114. When the liquid level reaches this point, the gravity siphon 114 begins to remove the excess liquid from the drain off reservoir 106 until the level defined by the entrance 118 of the gravity siphon 114 is reached. Thus, a portion of the particles contained in the porous member 72 is removed from the humidifier 10.

It should be apparent from the above that applicant has provided a highly improved humidifier 10 having a vaporizer means 12 removably mounted in a housing member 14. The vaporizer means 12 is connected to a pump assembly 42 by conduit means 64 for supplying liquid to the vaporizer means 12. The vaporizer means includes a manifold means 70 and a porous material 72. The vaporizer means 12 is removably received by the housing 14 and includes means 73 for gripping the porous material 72 such that a portion of the porous material 72 is restricted thereby to uniformly distribute the liquid supplied to the porous material 72. The humidifier further includes means for automatically reestablishing fluid communication between the conduit 64 and manifold 70 in response to insertion of manifold 70 into sealing engagement with the periphery of opening 15 in the housing 14.

I now claim:

1. A humidifier comprising a housing defining an opening therein, vaporizer media removably received in said opening, a conduit for supplying liquid to said vaporizer media, and means for sealingly engaging the housing and for establishing fluid communication between said vaporizer media and said conduit in response to said vaporizer means being inserted into said opening in the housing, said vaporizer media including a manifold and liquid vapor contact media associated therewith and wherein said manifold has means for engaging the periphery of said opening to locate said vaporizer media with respect to said housmg.

2. A humidifier comprising a housing defining an opening therein, vaporizer media removably received in said opening, a conduit for supplying liquid to said vaporizer media, and means for sealingly engaging the housing and for establishing fluid communication between said vaporizer media and said conduit in response to said vaporizer means being inserted into said opening in the housing, said means for establishing fluid communication comprising a member disposed in said housing and engaging said conduit for locating said conduit with respect to said opening; and said vaporizer media comprising a manifold having an aperture therein, and means on said manifold for locating said aperture with respect to said opening whereby fluid communication between said conduit and said manifold is automatically established when said manifold is disposed in said opening.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said member includes a connecting tube having one end connected to said conduit and the other end positioned in said housing to engage said aperture when said manifold is disposed in said opening.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said manifold includes a sealing surface surrounding said aperture.

5. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said manifold is made of a resiliently deformable material to thereby facilitate removal and replacement of said manifold in said opening.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said conduit has a rounded end portion which passes through said aperture.

7. A humidifier comprising a housing, vaporizer means supported by said housing for promoting vaporization of a liquid into an air flow through said housing, a ump assembly, conduit means commumcatmg sai pump assemb y and said vaporizer means for supplying the liquid to said vaporizer means, said vaporizer means comprising manifold means and porous material associated therewith, .said vaporizer means being removably received by said housing and means for connecting said manifold means in fluid communication with said conduit means in response to said vaporizer means being received by said housing, said manifold means gripping said porous material such that a portion of said porous material is restricted thereby, said manifold supplying liquid under pressure to said porous material during operation of said pump assembly.

8. A humidifier as defined in claim 7 wherein a portion of said manifold means grips said porous material, said gripping portion including lips for compressing said porous material.

9. A humidifier as defined in claim 7 wherein said housing has an opening therein through which said vaporizer means extends, said manifold means including first and second protrusions thereon which engage opposite sides of said housing adjacent said opening, said protrusion being releasable to enable removal of said vaporizer means from said housing through the opening therein.

10. A humidifier as defined in claim.7 wherein said means for connecting said manifold means in fluid communication in response to said vaporizer means being received by said housing comprises;

said housing having an opening therein,

a connecting tube of said conduit means being mounted within said housing in a fixed relationship to said opening,

said manifold means having an aperture therein positioned for engaging said connecting tube when said manifold means is located with respect to said opening, and

means on said manifold means for engaging the periphery of said opening in the housing to locate said aperture with respect to said connecting tube.

11. A humidifier as defined by claim 10 wherein said connecting tube comprises a rounded head portion and said manifold means is made of rubber to enable said aperture to stretch over said head portion and into sealing engagement with a surface of said housing. 

1. A humidifier comprising a housing defining an opening therein, vaporizer media removably received in said opening, a conduit for supplying liquid to said vaporizer media, and means for sealingly engaging the housing and for establishing fluid communication between said vaporizer media and said conduit in response to said vaporizer means being inserted into said opening in the housing, said vaporizer media including a manifold and liquid vapor contact media associated therewith and wherein said manifold has means for engaging the periphery of said opening to locate said vaporizer media with respect to said housing.
 1. A humidifier comprising a housing defining an opening therein, vaporizer media removably received in said opening, a conduit for supplying liquid to said vaporizer media, and means for sealingly engaging the housing and for establishing fluid communication between said vaporizer media and said conduit in response to said vaporizer means being inserted into said opening in the housing, said vaporizer media including a manifold and liquid vapor contact media associated therewith and wherein said manifold has means for engaging the periphery of said opening to locate said vaporizer media with respect to said housing.
 2. A humidifier comprising a housing defining an opening therein, vaporizer media removably received in said opening, a conduit for supplying liquid to said vaporizer media, and means for sealingly engaging the housing and for establishing fluid communication between said vaporizer media and said conduit in response to said vaporizer means being inserted into said opening in the housing, said means for establishing fluid communication comprising a member disposed in said housing and engaging said conduit for locating said conduit with respect to said opening; and said vaporizer media comprising a manifold having an aperture therein, and means on said manifold for locating said aperture with respect to said opening whereby fluid communication between said conduit and said manifold is automatically established when said manifold is disposed in said opening.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said member includes a connecting tube having one end connected to said conduit and the other end positioned in said housing to engage said aperture when said manifold is disposed in said opening.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3 whereiN said manifold includes a sealing surface surrounding said aperture.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said manifold is made of a resiliently deformable material to thereby facilitate removal and replacement of said manifold in said opening.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said conduit has a rounded end portion which passes through said aperture.
 7. A humidifier comprising a housing, vaporizer means supported by said housing for promoting vaporization of a liquid into an air flow through said housing, a pump assembly, conduit means communicating said pump assembly and said vaporizer means for supplying the liquid to said vaporizer means, said vaporizer means comprising manifold means and porous material associated therewith, said vaporizer means being removably received by said housing and means for connecting said manifold means in fluid communication with said conduit means in response to said vaporizer means being received by said housing, said manifold means gripping said porous material such that a portion of said porous material is restricted thereby, said manifold supplying liquid under pressure to said porous material during operation of said pump assembly.
 8. A humidifier as defined in claim 7 wherein a portion of said manifold means grips said porous material, said gripping portion including lips for compressing said porous material.
 9. A humidifier as defined in claim 7 wherein said housing has an opening therein through which said vaporizer means extends, said manifold means including first and second protrusions thereon which engage opposite sides of said housing adjacent said opening, said protrusion being releasable to enable removal of said vaporizer means from said housing through the opening therein.
 10. A humidifier as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for connecting said manifold means in fluid communication in response to said vaporizer means being received by said housing comprises; said housing having an opening therein, a connecting tube of said conduit means being mounted within said housing in a fixed relationship to said opening, said manifold means having an aperture therein positioned for engaging said connecting tube when said manifold means is located with respect to said opening, and means on said manifold means for engaging the periphery of said opening in the housing to locate said aperture with respect to said connecting tube. 